Monterey County Sheriff's investigators said Christian Jessica Deanda, 44, and Eraca Dawn Craig, 31, abused the girl and two boys, ages 3 and 5, over a long period of time inside their house on Russell Road.

Sheriff Scott Miller said the girl looked like someone who had come out of a concentration camp when she was rescued from the house.

The warrant, which refers to the 8-year-old girl as "Jane Doe," stated that when deputies arrived at the house for a welfare check on the children, the girl had several physical injuries, a scar on her head, dark circles under her eyes, and she weighed just 40 pounds.

"Jane Doe stated she was chained up to a wall with a collar around her neck. Jane Doe reported that her hair was shaved off and videotaped. Jane Doe reported that Christian kept a journal as well. Jane Doe was hit with a black belt and was forced to be chained up all day, every day," the warrant states.

Deputies said while they were questioning Craig and Deanda, they claimed the girl went on "hunger strikes," or "eats until she pukes."

The two boys were allowed to sleep in beds and have food while the girl was forced to sleep on the floor and was only allowed to eat oatmeal, according to the warrant.

"All the children were taken out of schools to prevent contact with police or counselors," the warrant states.

Deanda and Craig pleaded not guilty in a Salinas courtroom Wednesday. They are being held on $50,000 bail in Monterey County Jail but prosecutors want to increase it to half a million dollars.

The domestic couple had only been charged with child abuse in connection to the girl, but on Wednesday prosecutors added a count of false imprisonment. Prosecutors also added two misdemeanor charges of child abuse and neglect on behalf of two young boys.

Miller said the investigation was one of the worst cases he's encountered in more than 30 years of law enforcement.

Deanda's attorney, Jeremy Dzubay, said there is much more to the story than police and prosecutors have disclosed.

"I do encourage you to keep following the case because I think there is a much wider story here," Dzubay said.

PHOTOS: Salinas child abuse case

1 of 11

Monterey County sheriff's deputies said they discovered a case of severe child abuse committed by two women in a Salinas house.